The Lark Ascending
Join us on Thursday 26 March
There is a hint of warmer weather on its way, spring flowers are blooming, the dawn chorus is becoming livelier and the clocks are about to switch over to British Summer Time... What better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with an uplifting programme of folk song-inspired choral music: book now to reserve your place.
At the heart of tonight’s programme is a choral reimagining of The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams—a piece many of us know and love in its original form for orchestra and violin, inspired by George Meredith's poem of the same name. In this arrangement, the soaring violin line helps the music take flight in a new way alongside the choir.
Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Meredith
Around it, we’ve gathered a wide range of folk-inspired works—from the Nordic sound world of Gjermund Larsen and Ēriks Ešenvalds to music by James MacMillan and Gustav Holst, each offering their own distinctive response to traditional song. A number of these also feature a solo violin line, providing a counterpoint to the choral texture and reinforcing the link to the folk song tradition.
Introducing our soloist
We are delighted to be joined by Elizabeth French on violin for this programme. Elizabeth began her musical training at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the age of seven, studying both Violin and Piano. Elizabeth now enjoys a varied freelance career, performing throughout the UK in a wide range of ensembles and collaborations. Her work spans diverse musical settings, performing alongside classical instrumentalists as well as artists from the West End and popular music industries.
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